Abstract
IntroductionAssistive technology and telecare (ATT) may alleviate psychological burden in informal caregivers of people with dementia. This study assessed the impact of ATT on informal caregivers’ burden and psychological well‐being.MethodsIndividuals with dementia and their informal caregivers were recruited to a randomized‐controlled trial assessing effectiveness of ATT. Caregivers were allocated to two groups according to their cared‐for person's randomization to a full or basic package of ATT and were assessed on caregiver burden, state anxiety, and depression. Caregivers’ data from three assessments over 6 months of the trial were analyzed.ResultsNo significant between‐ or within‐group differences at any time point on caregivers’ burden, anxiety, and depression levels were found.DiscussionFull ATT for people with dementia did not impact caregivers’ psychological outcomes compared to basic ATT. The length of follow up was restricted to 6 months.
Highlights
Assistive technology and telecare (ATT) may alleviate psychological burden in informal caregivers of people with dementia
HIGHLIGHTS ∙ Informal caregivers of people with dementia have been found to have poor psychological well-being. ∙ We investigated the impact of a full package assistive technology and telecare (ATT) implemented for the cared-for person on informal caregivers’ psychological well-being. ∙ The psychological well-being of informal caregivers of people with dementia receiving a full package ATT did not differ from that of caregivers of people with dementia not in receipt of a full package of ATT
Interpretation: To our knowledge, ATTILA (Assistive Technologies and Telecare to Maintain Independent Living at Home Yrial) is the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) to assess the effectiveness of ATT for a person with dementia on informal carers’ psychological well-being
Summary
Caring for a person with dementia is associated with poor psychological and physical well-being[1] placing greater psychological burden on the caregiver than caring for individuals with other chronic conditions.[2]. An alternative to interventions targeting the caregivers directly are those aiming to remotely monitor and manage the care recipient Information communication technologies, such as those collecting, capturing, storing, processing, transmitting, exchanging, and presenting information, and/or communication, appear to facilitate delivery and access of health care to individuals with a chronic disease.[8,9] Assistive technology and telecare (ATT) involves installing equipment to manage the risks of living at home. We conducted a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) as part of the larger Assistive Technologies and Telecare to Maintain Independent Living At Home (ATTILA) trial.[13] The ATTILA trial examined the clinical and cost-effectiveness of ATT in supporting people with dementia to continue living safely within their own homes and the impact of the intervention on caregiver psychological outcomes.[13] This article reports on the impact of the intervention on informal caregiver outcomes.[13] The aim of this substudy of the ATTILA trial was to compare the effect of a full ATT versus basic ATT package for people with dementia on their caregivers’ psychological outcomes
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